Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 23^rd June 2012: 

Najib can only convince Malaysians rare earth refinery will be safe if the waste residue are stored behind the PM's residence 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak can only convince Malaysians that “scientific facts” have proven that the Lynas Corp rare earth refinery in Gebeng, Pahang will be safe if the waste residue are stored behind the prime minister’s residence. Can the Prime Minister explain to the residents of Bukit Merah in Perak who suffered from radioactive contamination from the rare earth plant, how scientific facts saved them?

The public has indeed made an informed decision regarding the safety of the rare earth refinery when they can see that Australian government refuses to take back the rare earth residue and that the Lynas facility is not sited in Putrajaya but amongst the ordinary rakyat in Gebeng. How can the Prime Minister be so insensitive as to describe genuine concerns of health and public safety as “imaginary fears”, when he or his wife and children do not have to face the risks should anything go wrong?

If Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin dared not fulfill his promise to live next to the Lynas plant, how can Najib then declare that there are no scientific facts that can raise doubts as to the safety of the public or the environment? By giving Lynas a 12-year tax holiday, Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak is committed to allowing Lynas to operate as BN values profits more than people’s health.

Gerakan that had opposed Lynas is now dumb and mute after been exposed as a party without principles by blindly supporting UMNO’s agenda. MCA continues to try to hide its support for Lynas with linguistic acrobatics. So desperate is MCA leaders justifying their support for Lynas, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai had claimed that there is nothing to stop Lynas from operating since Lynas has written in black and white that rare earth waste residue will not be stored in Malaysia. Liow Tiong Lai is just as confused on this issue as he is on whether he appled for free or paid for the WWW 15 vehicle registration number.

As a responsible Health Minister, Liow must demand Lynas to state where will the waste residue be stored or disposed off. Failure by Lynas to do so may endanger the environment as since no country will accept the waste residue, then will they be dumped into the sea? Transferring waste residues from one country to another that is not the source country could also be contrary to international rules.

By failing to listen to the concerns of the people, BN highlights the contrasting environmental approaches between PR that wants the Lamp closed down. Najib has still not explained why Lynas has to travel thousands of miles away to transport rare earth ore that is mined in Western Australia to Kuantan, when it is cheaper to build one in Australia? Najib should learn from the Australian government that places the welfare, health and environment of their citizens as more important than profits.

*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary General & MP for Bagan